SMACK has cause to mark 100 years
Aug 06, 2006
St. Mary’s College Kisubi, one of Uganda’s premier secondary schools, is now celebrating its centenary since it was founded in 1906 by Rev. Fr. Modesta Raux , a brilliant French missionary of the White Fathers society, who abandoned a lucrative post of Chaplain in a French college and came to Af
St. Mary’s College Kisubi, one of Uganda’s premier secondary schools, is now celebrating its centenary since it was founded in 1906 by Rev. Fr. Modesta Raux , a brilliant French missionary of the White Fathers society, who abandoned a lucrative post of Chaplain in a French college and came to Africa to found what was destined to become a great college.
Fr. Raux arrived in Uganda on foot from Mombasa and immediately embarked on setting up the institution to which he gave the motto “Duc in Altum†(aim at the highest). And this has been the central axis motivating SMACK’s lofty achievements. Its alumni are found in every layer of society and in every corner of the world. Many of them from modest backgrounds have been turned into very prominent doctors, scientists, researchers, professors, lawyers, etc in line with the motto.
I personally joined the college in the early 1960s when the Cambridge HSC programme had just been introduced in four leading schools and at the examinations, St. Mary’s halved the number of all certificates obtained! The college was then doing exceptional wonders in the Cambridge O-level examinations. That at the same, the legendary mathematician, Prof. J.C Kiwanuka, was appointed Uganda’s first Minister of Education in Uganda’s first government led by Benedicto Kiwanuka, himself an honourary Old Boy of the college. At the time, Kisubi was unbeatable in many sporting events. One of its students, the legendary John Baptist Okello, the 110-metre hurdler, had just brought glory to Africa in the Rome Olympics. Indeed that was the time when Kisubi personally made me everything.
The first French lessons which the college inaugurated for Uganda were eventually to be a solid foundation that later on enabled me to obtain a PhD from University of Paris where, thanks to the structural and philosophical upbringing originally obtained from Kisubi, I was always at ease in lecture seminars and conferences conducted by intellectuals galaxies such as Jean Paul Sarter, Herbert Marcuse, Jean Lacan, Jacques Derrida, Henri meschonnic, etc…
St. Mary’s college has always initiated important projects in Sciences, Mathematics, languages, sports and other extra-curricular activities. At one occasion, it set up a special four-year diploma course in social ethics organised by the Oxford Catholic Social Guild. This project helped to form wonderful calibres both socially and intellectually. It is because of these special extras which the Brothers of Christian Instruction introduce side by side with the general school subjects that make the Kisubis special minds wherever they are, regardless of their various academic levels and achievements. They respect others, they love and serve society whole heartedly, and they often pose as models in positive leadership. This isn’t a mere boisterous observation, but it is a concrete view that has been all along cherished by all responsible people ranging from colonial governors to presidents and cabinet ministers.
SMACK is just an adequate symbol that displays how the missionary factor in the region has been a tremendous success.
I wish Kabaka Muteesa I (1861-1884) who invited missionaries to Uganda and eventually gave them land was able to look at a place like Kasubi Hill with all its academic institutions. He would very rightly say he really deserves to be called one of the wisest founding fathers of modern Africa!
As a product of SMACK, I humbly salute the White Fathers who due to their love for Africa, founded this college of international repute. I also salute the Brothers of Christian Instruction because of the way they have efficiently administered this great institution, making it a star model. And I warmly salute all those who have always sacrificed their energies for the college.
And for our most beloved alma mater, I am proud of its glittering contribution towards the edification of modern Africa. Long live SMACK!
The writer is a researcher/teacher at the Academic de Versailles, Paris
For more on SMACK
centenary visit the site:
http://www.enteruganda.com/brochures/ckisubi.htm
Fr. Raux arrived in Uganda on foot from Mombasa and immediately embarked on setting up the institution to which he gave the motto “Duc in Altum†(aim at the highest). And this has been the central axis motivating SMACK’s lofty achievements. Its alumni are found in every layer of society and in every corner of the world. Many of them from modest backgrounds have been turned into very prominent doctors, scientists, researchers, professors, lawyers, etc in line with the motto.
I personally joined the college in the early 1960s when the Cambridge HSC programme had just been introduced in four leading schools and at the examinations, St. Mary’s halved the number of all certificates obtained! The college was then doing exceptional wonders in the Cambridge O-level examinations. That at the same, the legendary mathematician, Prof. J.C Kiwanuka, was appointed Uganda’s first Minister of Education in Uganda’s first government led by Benedicto Kiwanuka, himself an honourary Old Boy of the college. At the time, Kisubi was unbeatable in many sporting events. One of its students, the legendary John Baptist Okello, the 110-metre hurdler, had just brought glory to Africa in the Rome Olympics. Indeed that was the time when Kisubi personally made me everything.
The first French lessons which the college inaugurated for Uganda were eventually to be a solid foundation that later on enabled me to obtain a PhD from University of Paris where, thanks to the structural and philosophical upbringing originally obtained from Kisubi, I was always at ease in lecture seminars and conferences conducted by intellectuals galaxies such as Jean Paul Sarter, Herbert Marcuse, Jean Lacan, Jacques Derrida, Henri meschonnic, etc…
St. Mary’s college has always initiated important projects in Sciences, Mathematics, languages, sports and other extra-curricular activities. At one occasion, it set up a special four-year diploma course in social ethics organised by the Oxford Catholic Social Guild. This project helped to form wonderful calibres both socially and intellectually. It is because of these special extras which the Brothers of Christian Instruction introduce side by side with the general school subjects that make the Kisubis special minds wherever they are, regardless of their various academic levels and achievements. They respect others, they love and serve society whole heartedly, and they often pose as models in positive leadership. This isn’t a mere boisterous observation, but it is a concrete view that has been all along cherished by all responsible people ranging from colonial governors to presidents and cabinet ministers.
SMACK is just an adequate symbol that displays how the missionary factor in the region has been a tremendous success.
I wish Kabaka Muteesa I (1861-1884) who invited missionaries to Uganda and eventually gave them land was able to look at a place like Kasubi Hill with all its academic institutions. He would very rightly say he really deserves to be called one of the wisest founding fathers of modern Africa!
As a product of SMACK, I humbly salute the White Fathers who due to their love for Africa, founded this college of international repute. I also salute the Brothers of Christian Instruction because of the way they have efficiently administered this great institution, making it a star model. And I warmly salute all those who have always sacrificed their energies for the college.
And for our most beloved alma mater, I am proud of its glittering contribution towards the edification of modern Africa. Long live SMACK!
The writer is a researcher/teacher at the Academic de Versailles, Paris
For more on SMACK
centenary visit the site:
http://www.enteruganda.com/brochures/ckisubi.htm